A new Flight Deck Training Simulator has been installed at UK Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose to train crews to operate the new naval assets that will join service in the near future.
The crews can be trained and familiarised with operations on Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, Type 45 destroyers, Type 23 frigates, and the future Type 26 combat ships and MARS tankers.
Developed by a civilian contractor Systems Engineering and Assessment (Sea), the simulator will train flight deck officers (FDO) and aircraft handlers (AH) to safely land and operate aircraft on and off a ship’s flight deck.
SEA project manager Ben Webb said: "We were asked to provide a technical refresh for the FDO trainer.
"Replacing aging hardware and upgrade the systems functionality as well as ensuring that it was current.
"A dedicated team of software designers, 3D modellers and computer developers worked quickly to put texture into everything and produce as life-like as possible flight deck."
With the new facility, flight deck crews can simulate all deck operations, including fire fighting and engineering emergencies, aircraft refuelling, marshalling and multi-spot landings, as well as changing sea states and day and night conditions.
The crew can train on all the helicopter types that are currently used in service.
Additionally, the FDO simulator team are looking to install newer aircraft types for Chinook, Apache, Osprey and F35 jet pilots to practise on, within the next few months.
Image: RNSFDO Flight Deck Officer Simulator. Photo: courtesy of Royal Navy.
